The Zhao Family

大家好，

在本周初我們有機會探和照顧班長老在醫院，因為他得了肺炎。他現在康復了，但是當他在醫院，我們有幾個日和他的同伴甯長老一齊服務。因為甯長老現在服務兩個地區，西灣和柴灣，加埋我和成長老的責任服務全香港英文的需要，那時候非常忙。今個星期都是他們兩個的生日，所以我們好高興和他們興祝！

除此之外，我們都有機會教導Nicholas。他很厲害！雖然我們就是三個星期前認識他，他已經讀完摩爾門經！他自己在面書報名去跟傳教士學習。我認為他可以進步那麼快因為他的真誠的渴望來了解神對他的計劃。剛剛這個星期我們分享關於所救恩計劃。在他課程之前，由於他自己的研究，他已經知道所有這個計劃的部分。那個渴望不是正常的。我知道天父真的有準備人來接受祂的福音。本週二，他會有他的洗禮面談。請為他祈禱！

我好高興星期日都有機會在教會聖餐聚會來分享講道。我當時的題目就是關於基督對每一個人的關係，特別在這節經文在尼腓三書，『祂說了這些話，就哭了，群眾都為這事作證；祂一一抱起他們的小孩，祝福他們，並為他們向父禱告』（尼腓三書17：21）。祂一一認識我們。我很喜歡分享這個原則因為那真的是最好的方法來服務其他人。我學到一個人的歸心透過個人的關心和施助。

在馬茨瓦戈撒塔長老，一個七十員的信息稱為祂按你的名認識你，他說 『祂知道你的喜樂，並與你一同歡喜；祂知道你的憂傷，祂能救助並扶持你。因為祂的贖罪，祂知道你的重擔、痛苦和無聲的淚水... ［當］我們選擇與耶穌基督同行，一切就會開始轉變。祂不再是泛泛之交，而是值得信賴的天上朋友。 』

我知道哪個原則是真實的。耶穌基督按你的名認識你。我希望當每一個人接收到這個真理我們，我們都會揾到心和其他人分享！

很愛你們
趙長老

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qkaoEe965etiYQuj7生日快樂甯長老！

大家好！

不好意思今天遲到分享。我們有一位長老生病而住院了。請為他和傳教士的健康祈禱。

今個星期我們有一個地帶的議會和七十員的吳萬良長 。因為他以前成為智利的傳道部會長，他給我們訓練。我覺得他今個星期分享的事情是非常之重要的，特別對傳教士，所以我想用這些時間分享。他的訓練的題目和鐘點是關於主動。他一開始的時候，他分享這節經文，在尼腓二書2:14；現在，我兒，我對你們講這些事，是為了讓你們得到好處和知識；因為的確有一位神，祂創造了萬物，包括諸天和大地及其中的萬物，無論是主動者或被動者。

身為傳教士，我們的目的是，藉著幫助他人透過耶穌基督。但是我們有時候不知道如何幫到其他人。因為廣東話不是一個容易的語言，而香港對傳教士的方向不是很歡迎，有時這份責任令人望而生畏，特別新來的傳教士。當他留意這個情況，其中他的分享，他分享這些經文。

58 因為他們都有能力，他們是自己的主宰。世人只要做好事，絕不會失去他們的酬賞。
- 教義和聖約58:28

1　看啊，主這樣對你們這些我的僕人們說，我認為應當用書信或其他方法，從東西南北各地召集我教會的長老。
2　事情將是這樣，只要他們忠信，並運用對我的信心，我必在他們聚集的那天，將我的靈澆灌在他們身上。
3　事情將是這樣，他們要進入附近地區，向人民宣講悔改。
4　而且許多人將歸信，所以你們會獲得能力依照人的法律組織起來；
- 教義和聖約44:1-4

近來我們的地帶傳教士有一些擔憂對他們的不足之處，有時會感到沮喪和不相繼續努力。我覺得吳長老的信息有一個很重要的原則。我們被召喚到香港不是因為我們想幫每一個人接受洗禮。我們在這裡所以我們可以完成天父的計劃，而相信他的時間表。所以，即使我們所有不士傳教士，我們不需要擔心因為祂已經預備了我們的未來。只要我們做我們的部分，勤奮來做祂所命令的是。（尼腓一書3：7）

Just before I close I also wanted to share a thought that really touched me this week. Over the past couple of days we had the opportunity to give talks throughout the week in the Victoria 2nd branch, who meet every day throughout the week to accommodate domestic filipina helpers that don't have a day off on Sundays. It was a privilege to serve these sisters who used their one day off to come worship.

My focus in my message was on Helaman Chapter 5-6, which illustrated Helaman's son's, Lehi and Nephi's prostylting story. How they got thrown in jail, how the were delivered by miracle, and how they converted the Lamanites and helped them find deliverance, peace, and joy as these converts went to share the gospel and build God's church.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/hel/5?lang=eng

Later in the week I was checking in with some of our sister missionaries, and they shared with me how one of their members had mentioned how much this message had moved and strengthened her, and had wanted to thank me but never got the chance. Although I was so grateful for their expression of gratitude for the member, I was more so impressed by the pure excitement of these younger missionaries who saw the influence of a simple testimony.

Recently it's been a little concerning how to help younger missionaries build their confidence in teaching and in missionary work in general, especially with a lot of them beginning to feel the real strain of the work a couple of weeks in. During a mission leader conference we had earlier this week, one of the biggest takeaways I had, which was amplified by this experience, was the need to help missionaries find for themselves where they are, and where they want to go.

In his address “Stand Ye in Holy Places” President Harold B. Lee shared

You cannot lift another soul until you are standing on higher ground than he is. You must be sure, if you would rescue the man, that you yourself are setting the example of what you would have him be. You cannot light a fire in another soul unless it is burning in your own soul. You teachers, the testimony that you bear, the spirit with which you teach and with which you lead, is one of the most important assets that you can have, as you help to strengthen those who need so much, wherein you have so much to give.

In essence, we cannot have conviction in sharing something we don't believe.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1982/10/what-this-work-is-all-about?lang=eng&id=p33#p33

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1973/04/stand-ye-in-holy-places?lang=eng&id=p21#p21

I hope that your own testimony, whether it be in this gospel or in your ethics, will be strong enough to support you when you find a need to stand by them. Finding a purpose in the work you do will make the difference in the joy you find.

See you all next week!
趙長老

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qkaoEe965etiYQuj7

So Brother Chad Anderson has been wanting to do this for quite some time. When he grew up, he saw a homemade video by church members called, "Mormon Rap". He loved it so much and that now we have a great number of youth, he took upon himself with our with to recreate the video, but with our youth. With his expertise and magic, the amazing and cooperative youth, the video is amazing!

Below is the when all the youth and parents watched Brother Anderson's masterpiece! They all had a great laughter!
THANK YOU BROTHER CHAD ANDERSON!!!

大家好！

爸爸今天投訴我前幾個信息沒有寫中文字，所以我今個星期多用粵語來分享。我呢排在灣仔和成長老為維多利亞分會服務。這個分會是一個英文的分會，而有很多家庭來自美國。因為我剛剛來了，我們今個星期有機會去探訪這些家庭。當我們有這些機會，我好喜歡分享其中一個信息，在摩羅乃書第十章第八節。『享弟兄們，我再勸告你們，不要否認神的恩賜，因為神的恩賜很多。』我覺得這個原則好重要因為我們需要記得用神俾我們的才能。當時我們和一個李家庭見，我透過小提琴分享音樂，而且，由於我們分享，他們都有表示自己的才能！他們表現了小提琴，鋼琴，都有吉他。

上個星期日梁長老在澳門幫到Ronaldo和他的最好朋友Francis受洗了。他們是透過足球認識；由於當時的長老運用他們的才能，兩位朋友有機會建立這個對神的個人關係。

『看啊，他們奉派在惡人的會眾中宣講我的福音；因此，我給他們一條誡命，就是：不可虛度光陰，也不可埋藏才能，使那才能不為人知。』

教義和聖約60:13

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/60?lang=yue&id=p13#p13

I am running a little low on time because writing in Chinese takes a lot more time than English and there are still some things I wanted to share this week.

First of all is the miracle of how Ronaldo and Francis, who were just baptized, were actually met by me and Elder Leung. In Cantonese, I had just explained that Ronaldo had been initially found because missionaries used their talents to play football/soccer to meet him. But in fact he had not been taught or contacted for a long while because he hadn't shown interest during that initial interaction. In the week before I made it to Macau, Elder Leung was bored while his companion at the time, Elder Cornehls was contacting their progressing friends. With nothing better to do, he went into our missionary records and essentially did a roulette, scrolling down to a random name and calling them. This ended up being Ronaldo, who invited his best friend Francis to come with him. They didn't see too much progress until about halfway into my time in Macau, when suddenly Francis really decided to finish his lessons and become baptized. He was set a date for the 6th of September. Ronaldo, although he already had a date, was challenged by Francis to do it earlier, and they were able to be taught and meet this goal together.

Although I wasn't there to attend this special moment this past Sunday, the Lord planned a different interaction which included another principle I wanted to share. Just passing at the Wanchai chapel during our sacrament meeting was a member of the Presidency of the Netherlands mission, who took Elder Shields, some other missionaries, and I aside with our friends to share a message. Within this time we shared, he focused on helping our friend Charlie understand the meaning and true blessing of baptism. One thing I wanted to share from this interaction was his focus on the importance of gratitude. It is from gratitude we find charity, and it is in charity we find joy. Bednar once shared that “Character is revealed … in the power to discern the suffering of other people when we ourselves are suffering; in the ability to detect the hunger of others when we are hungry; and in the power to reach out and extend compassion for the spiritual agony of others when we are in the midst of our own spiritual distress.”

It has become more and more apparent as I have served as a missionary that gratitude can be the very turning point of one's life. This gratitude brings joy. As Sister Anderson from my home branch shared with me last week "... the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives." ~President Russell M. Nelson

I pray that we all are able to find opportunities to find joy in both our abilities and also our capacity to share love with others. As we do so the Lord truly will magnify our efforts to accomplish the things He has in store for each of us.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qkaoEe965etiYQuj7

See you next week!

趙長老